What to watch for from semifinal games
One quarterfinal game was decided in overtime, another was an upset and two stayed true to form, so it should make for an interesting pair of semifinals on Monday.
Top-seeded Robbinsville/ Allentown needed overtime to squeeze past old nemesis Notre Dame and meets meet No. 4 Hopewell Valley/Montgomery, which rose to the challenge against the Hamilton Tri-op.
The other quarterfinal saw No. 6 Paul VI/Camden Catholic upset No. 3 Lawrenceville B to set up a date with No. 2 Princeton after the Tigers downed the West WindsorPlainsboro Co-op.
Here is a look at both games that are being played at the Mercer County Skating Center, unfortunately about five hours apart.
NO. 4 HOPEWELL VALLEY/ MONTGOMERY (12-9-1) VS. NO. 1 ROBBINSVILLE/ALLENTOWN (12-6-2), 3:30 P.M.
These two have met twice in the regular season and Robbinsville/Allentown won both by shutout, 4-0 and 3-0.
So, could the R/A skaters be taking HVM lightly?
“Not when it brings you one step closer to winning an MCT Championship,” said Robbinsville/Allentown coach Dan Bergan. “It’s a nameless, faceless opponent at this point.”
While on the other bench it’ll be Hopewell Valley/Montgomery looking to have everyone remember their name.
“This time of year is a grind for all of us,” said HVM coach Jeff Radice. “You just have to put your head down, grab your lunch pail and punch the clock.”
Robbinsville/Allentown has been punching at a pretty good clip, having won six of the last seven.
It has been a balanced attack for R/A, but the key has been the defense rising to the occasion and it’ll be a major component Monday.
“The key will be great fiveman defensive coverage,” said Bergan. “We have lost some firepower to injuries and this is now our formula to be successful.”
While injuries have slowed down the attack, they still have some armed and dangerous players around the net.
Charlie Luizza leads with 19 goals and 16 assists, JP Sferra, who scored the game winner against Notre Dame has 15 and 17, Jaiden Gingras leads in assists with 18 and Zach Duggan has 11 and 17.
“They are a solid, deep hockey team that plays a structured game,” said Radice, of Robbinsville/Allentown. “They do not make many mistakes.”
HVM, which has won three straight, will be looking to capitalize on every R/A miscue, though.
They are led by Liam Yeoman with 15 goals and 12 assists, Gavin Nau, who is tied for the CVC lead in assists with 21 and Matthew Greenspoon has 11 goals and 17 assists.
HVM is aware it hasn’t scored against Robbinsville/ Allentown this year and has a plan this time.
“We need to be harder on the puck around the net and look to bury our chances when we create them,” said Radice.
Both teams has solid goalies, so burying chances is never easy.
HVM is playing good hockey right now and R/A seems to be on a mission, so it should make for an tight game.
NO. 6 PAUL VI/CAMDEN CATHOLIC (6-8-3) VS. NO. 2 PRINCETON (12-6-1), 8:15 P.M.
The last time these two met it was a tale of two games, PVI/ CC jumped to a nice lead only to see the talented Tigers come roaring back for a 6-5 win.
“Monday we must play a full three periods and focus on our defensive responsibilities,”
said Paul VI/Camden Catholic coach Charlie Hall. “We need to play better away from the puck. We can’t rely on (goalie) Jake Lenox to constantly bail us out, at some point we have to make his job easier. “
Hall was pleased with the effort in the win over Lawrenceville B in the quarters.
Rik Johnson, the Princeton coach, knows the PVI/CC win was a confidence boost and that his team needs to be ready for anything.
“PVI is coming off a big win over the Lawrenceville Prep B squad,” said Johnson. “That was a character game for those guys. They battled and earned their W. I expect nothing less from them on Monday.”
Hall also knows to expect plenty from Princeton, who has win three straight and scored 18 goals in three games.
“We need to play our game,” said Johnson. “When we’re executing, having fun and playing fast & physical, there aren’t many teams that can beat us. Unfortunately, we have not added all of the ingredients to the recipe throughout the season, but this is probably a good time to get some things clicking.”
Cooper Zullo, a prime Player of the Year candidate, leads Princeton with 27 goals and 16 assists, Ethan Garlock has been sensational this season with 12 goals and 23 assists and Brendan Beatty (9/17)
and TT Zhao (8/15) have been contributing.
“Princeton has some of the most skilled players in the conference Zullo, Garlock, and Zhao are tremendous players that put pressure on everyone they play,” said Hall. “Princeton also moves the puck really well because of their skill, they know how to find each other in open areas. I think the third period is where they really excel, they come at you with their best players and it is nonstop. It’s certainly a challenge to stop them so late in the game with the speed and skill they play with.”
Paul VI/Camden Catholic has a few skilled players of their own in CJ Compagnola,
who like Zullo is a Player of the Year candidate, Steve Gresh and Joey Plumley.
Compagnola has 17 goals and 17 assists, Gresh has 13 and 18 and Plumley has 11 goals.
Jake Lenox has 464 saves and will be counted on heavily.
“One key will be getting shots on net as much as possible,” Hall stated. “We need to put pressure on their defense and keep them in their defensive end as much as possible. Effort and desire will be paramount to our success.”
It’s a matchup of two hungry teams looking to take the next step.